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Saturday, June 22, 2013

Another new feature that I will be starting on this blog is about discussing events that had profound effects

1- Event:

Michel Platini’s injury and absence from the French national team in the spring of 1981.

Consequence:

Platini was France’s playmaker in the midfield. His absence allowed France manager Michel Hidalgo to include Bordeaux’s Alain Giresse whose National team prospects seemed to have passed him by.

After Platini’s return instead of excluding Giresse, Hidalgo decided to include them both and was able to create one of the best midfields in Europe of the 1980s that led to a European Championship title (1984) and two World Cup Semifinals (1982 and 1986).

His assistant, a then unknown Louis van Gaal was promoted as new coach.

Van Gaal ,who had never been head coach anywhere, started to implement his own ideas and slowly built a young team that would triumph in the 1995 Champions League that included many young stars such as Patrick Kluivert.

His success with Ajax led to future positions at Barcelona, Bayern Munich as well as two stints (Including now) as Holland’s National team manager.

Photo from: World Soccer, November 1990

(Leo Beenhakker)

Photo from: World Soccer, June 1995

(Louis Van Gaal)

3- Event:

Argentina goalkeeper Nery Pumpido being injured after a collision with teammate Julio Olarticoechea during the World Cup match vs. USSR on June 13, 1990.

Consequence:

Usual goalkeeper back-up Luis Islas was dropped from the squad prior to Final selections as he did not want to be understudy.

Sergio Goycoechea was promoted to understudy and in the 11th minute of the USSR match replaced Pumpido.

Goycoechea, who had expected to see no action during the World Cup, went on to become one of the stars and revelations of the tournament.

He was the hero on penalty kick shoot-out wins vs. Yugoslavia and Italy by saving penalties in both matches and helping Argentina to get all the way to the Final.

2- Prior to signing for Olympique Marseille in the summer of 1986, French striker Jean-Pierre Papin was on the verge of joining AS Monaco from Club Brugge.

However, OM President Bernard Tapie persuaded Papin to come to Marseille.

Photo from: World Soccer, June 1994

(Bernard Tapie)

Photo from: Onze-Mondial, January 1990

(Jean-Pierre Papin with OM)

3- German striker Jurgen Klinnsman almost joined Real Madrid in the summer of 1992.

Klinnsman was to leave Italian club Internazionale Milano and had agreed with Real Madrid’s Dutch Manager Leo Beenhakker to join Real.

However, after Beenhakker was dismissed following Real’s defeat in the League title race and Copa del Rey Final, the deal was cancelled.

Real instead signed Chilean Ivan Zamorano from Sevilla and Klinnsman joined France’s AS Monaco.

Photo from: Guerin Sportivo, October 14-20, 1992

(Jurgen Klinnsman with AS Monaco, 1992/93 season)

4-Brazilian midfielder signed for Paris St Germain from Sao Paulo in the middle of 1992/93 season. He had the option to be loaned until the end of the season to Benfica, however, Rai refused and waited until the conclusion of the season to join PSG.

Photo from: Onze-Mondial, June 1994

(PSG’s Rai and AS Monaco’s Claude Puel, 1993/94 season)

5-During the 1987/88 season, Internazionale Milano acquired, from Porto, Algeria’s Rabah Madjer for the following season.

However, Inter pulled out of the agreement due to the fear that Madjer was injury prone.

The second leg, on April 20, was played in Hamburg’s Volsksparkstadion.

On the days leading up to the match, Horst Hrubesch had revealed that he would be leaving Hamburg for Standard Liege at the end of the season.

Hamburg started with a more attacking formation. Thomas von Heesen joined in the attack with Hieronymus out and Groh in defense.

Photo From: France Football, April 26, 1983

(Hamburg’s Hartwig with Julio Olaizola behind him)

For Sociedad gone were goalscorer Agustin Gajate, as well as Jose Maria Bakero and Jesus Zamora to be replaced with Eliseo Murillo, Julio Olaizola and Tomas Orbegozo in the starting lineup.

Photo From: France Football, April 26, 1983

(Hamburg’s Hrubesch with Celayeta and Gorriz)

Sociedad were still missing Jesus Satrustegui and Ignacio Okortabarria.

Sociedad adopted a defensive formation and Hamburg was only able to score with 15 minutes remaining through Jakobs header from a Kaltz corner from the right.

Photo From: France Football, April 26, 1983

(Hamburg’s Manfred Kaltz)

Sociedad tied 4 minutes later after a long punt by Arconada reached Bakero who crossed from the right to Diego Alvarez who scored.

Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, April 28-May 3, 1983

(Jakobs heading Hamburg’s first goal)

Just before the end, another corner from the right by Kaltz was sent to Magath at the edge of the box who blasted it so hard that Arconada could only parry and von Heesen picked up the rebound from close range.

﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿The goal seemed suspiciously offside, however, the result was well deserved.